Heretics come back, down Thieves at CDL Stage 4 Major qualifying

Field Level Media|published: 05/04/2025, 2:57am EDT

The Miami Heretics were down 2-1 before rallying to defeat the Los Angeles Thieves in five maps on Saturday in their opening match in the Call of Duty League's Stage 4 Major qualifying.

Other second-day winners on Saturday were OpTic Texas, the Carolina Royal Ravens and the Vegas Falcons.

The Stage 4 Major qualifying round has the league's 12 teams playing five qualifying matches apiece through May 18 to determine seeding for the Stage 4 Major playoffs, slated for May 23-25 in Dallas.

The Heretics outlasted the Thieves, who took the first map, 250-125 on Red Card Hardpoint. The Heretics drew even with a 6-4 victory on Hacienda Search & Destroy, then dropped a 3-1 outcome on Vault Control. Needing to win out, Miami captured Hacienda Hardpoint 250-137 and Rewind Search & Destroy 6-5.

Also Saturday, the Falcons needed to go the distance to down the Minnesota Rokker, who opened with a 250-81 win on Red Card Hardpoint. The Falcons responded by winning Red Card Search & Destroy 6-4 and Hacienda Control 3-1. Minnesota evened the match with a 250-198 win on Vault Hardpoint, before Vegas had the final edge 6-5 on Rewind Search & Destroy.

The Royal Ravens swept the Boston Breach 3-0, winning 250-240 on Skyline Hardpoint, 6-3 on Red Card Search & Destroy and 3-1 on Hacienda Control.

Texas overwhelmed the Vancouver Surge 3-0, winning 250-159 on Skyline Hardpoint, 6-3 on Hacienda Search & Destroy and 3-1 on Protocol Control.

Sunday's matches:

--Los Angeles Guerrillas M8 vs. Miami Heretics

--Cloud9 New York vs. Toronto Ultra

--Atlanta FaZe vs. Los Angeles Thieves

Call of Duty League Stage 4 Major qualifying standings (with match record and map differential):

T1. Cloud9 New York, 1-0, plus-3

T1. OpTic Texas, 1-0, plus-3

3. Toronto Ultra, 1-0, plus-2

T4. Atlanta FaZe, 1-0, plus-1

T4. Miami Heretics, 1-0, plus-1